Bibliography on Vancouver Lake Watershed, including Burnt Bridge Creek, Flushing Channel, Lake River, and Salmon Creek |
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| Entire Bibliography (.doc format) | Summary | Title Page and Acknowledgements | Timeline | ||
| Vancouver Lake | Burnt Bridge Creek | Salmon Creek | Lake River | Related Links | |
| Bibliography 1900-50 | Bibliography 1951-60 | Bibliography 1961-70 | Bibliography 1971-80 | Bibliography 1981-90 | Bibliography 1991-Present |
Bibliography of Vancouver Lake watershed, including Burnt Bridge Creek, Flushing Channel, Lake River, and Salmon Creek
A history of restoration efforts for Vancouver Lake
Wille,
Stephen A. 1990. Wetland Resources of the Salmon Creek Basin, Clark County,
Washington. Vancouver, WA: Clark County Conservation District.
Executive Summary: The term "wetlands" encompasses a variety of wet environments -- inland marshes, wet meadows, ponds, bogs, bottomland hardwood forests, wooded swamps, and fens. Until recently, laws and programs have repeatedly been enacted to encourage the development of these areas. We now realize that wetlands are important ecological resources -- resources that nurture wildlife, purify polluted waters, check the destructive power of floods and storms, and provide a variety of opportunities for recreational activity.
The Salmon Creek basin of Clark County, in southwest Washington, is currently under intense developmental pressure due to an expanding urban population base. In 1988, the Clark County Conservation District received a Centennial Clean Water Grant from the Washington Department of Ecology to assist in developing a Salmon Creek Water Quality Master Plan. Clark County Public Services provided matching funds to initiate the program, and began concurrent work on a basinwide flood control program. The studies were designed to compliment each other, and will be integrated to form the basis of a Master PLan for the Salmon Creek basin.
Integral to the water quality plan was the gathering of baseline inventory information. The purpose of this study was to locate and classify existing wetlands within the basin to determine their areal extent, distribution, and original intent as the region, and nation, became increasingly concerned about the fate of wetlands. The products of this report, which is not absolute, establish a baseline of known wetland resources within the basin, and thereby provide information necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive water quality management plan.
Existing wetlands information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and aerial photography from the Department of Natural Resources, were used as a base to prepare the inventory. Wetlands were classified according to Cowardin et al, 1979, an accepted methodology currently used by numerous federal and state agencies. Because most historical data was compiled with the exclusive use of aerial photography, all identified wetlands were field checked to verify their existence and current status. Data limitations exist due to available funding allocated to this phase of the project, as well as the time of year. Nontheless, several previously unidentified wetlands were located and classified.
A geographic description, including major hydric soil types, of the six largest stream subbasins and the Salmon Creek subbasin were prepared. Only inland, freshwater wetlands are found within the watershed. Most are seasonally or temporarily flooded. Wetlands are estimated to cover approximately 1970 acres, or about 3.4 percent, of the basin. Seasonal emergent wetlands (marshes) were the dominant habitat type, encompassing one-half of the wetlands classified. Forested and scrub-shrub wetlands constituted nearly 20 percent of the basin's wetlands, respectively.
The greatest number of wetlands were found in Mill and Curtin Creek basins. The largest wetlands were located in the central and lower portions of Salmon Creek subbasin. Many of these were associated with low lying areas on otherwise level ground. Elevated water tables with typically saturated soils are frequently associated with the localized distribution of wetlands.
There is little reason to doubt net wetland loss continues to occur in Clark County, approximately 20 percent of the development activity in the basin involves wetlands. Clark County Public Services currently administers the Washington Shorelines Management Act of 1971, whih offers some protection to wetlands associated with shorelines of the state. Nonetheless, wetland loss continues within the Salmon Creek basin. From observations made during this study, the greatest single threat to the continued existence of wetlands in the basin appears to be both the legal and illegal filling of privately owned wetlands. The continued and future channelization of streams and wetlands for drainage purposes is also recognized as a threat.
Wetland trend analyses indicate extensive numbers of wetlands are being converted to other uses nationwide. Studies indicate the current extent of wetlands in Washington has been decreased by both natural and human imposed processes. Wetland mitigation should be used only as a last resort to wetland loss, and should not be used as a rationalization for destroying more wetlands.
A number of strategies and approaches based on hydrologic parameters are recommended to address the future of wetlands in Clark County. Specific actions to take include: implement a broad based public information and education progam, determine clear and realistic objectives for high value wetlands in the county, develop an enlarged data base designed to monitor and update currently available wetlands information, discourage wetland conversion, and require adequate and enforceable mitigation only as a last resorct to wetland loss.
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April 27, 2010
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